Adjustable roller support for airway cleaners



June 14, 1932. n. B. REPLOAGLE ADJUSTABLE ROLLER SUPPORT FOR AIRWAY CLEANERS Filed May 7, 1928 INVENTOR.

Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE DANIEL BENSON REPLOGLE, 0F BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE A$SIGNMENTS,'T1O TI-IE COMMERCE GUARDIAN TRUST & SAVINGS BANK, OF

TOLEDO, OHIO, TRUSTEE ADJUSTABLE ROLLER SUPPORT FOR AIRWAY CLEANERS 7 Application filed May 7, 1928. Serial No. 275,905.

This invention relates to adjustable supports applicable to bag-type airway cleaning apparatus such as is shown in my Patent No. 1,345,550, issued July 6, 1920, and re-issued December 15, 1925, as No. 16,224; likewise applicable to my bagless type airway cleaners as are'shown and described in mypending application Serial No. 251,641, filed February 3, 1928. 1

One of the characteristic features of cleaners of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned patents and application is the use of a handle which is rigidly secured to the cleaner itself rather thanadjustably hinged thereto as in the case ofmost other cleaners. Another feature of this type of cleaner is the fioor tool, which is in working position when the handle is in an inclined position intermediate between the horizontal and vertical. Heretofore-supports have been designed for such cleaners for support in the working position only, With a cleaner of this character difiiculty has been experienced in storing or closeting the cleaner with its handle in upright position due to the rigid connection between the cleaner and handle, a difficulty which is not experienced in storing cleaners in which the handle is hinged to the cleaner. One of the objects ofthe presentinvention is accordingly to provide adjustable means for supporting a cleaner having a handle rigidly connected thereto, with-its handle either in substantially vertical position for convenience in closeting or storing, or in working position with the handle lowered.

Another characteristic feature of cleaners of the type disclosed in my above-mentioned patents and application is the fact'that the handle is hollow, open at both ends and operatively connected to a source of suction car- I ried by the cleaner. At one end of the handle a floor tool is adapted to be operatively connected, While at the other end suction 'hose' and extension cleaning tools of any desired type may be operatively attached. Valve means are provided for selectively placing either end of the suction handle in open communication with the source of suction.

Heretofore, since no means have been pro-- vided in connection with such cleaners for 1,533,271, for air-way cleaning apparatus,

dated April 14, 1925, leaving only one hand available for manipulating the extension apparatus. According to the present invention, adjustable means connected with the cleaner are provided for supporting the cleaner with the'suction handle in substantially upright position sothat hose extension apparatus may be connected to the upper open end, leaving both hands of the'operator free to manipulate the cleaning apparatus and permitting the operator to work at a distance from the supported cleaner. In this manner the cleaning apparatus may be adapted to combine the advantages of the usual portable floor cleaning apparatus with the advantages ofstationary cleaning systems.

Among the objects of the present invention cleaners ofthe typeherein describe'din various positions, according as the machines are to be employed for floor cleaning purposes with the floor tool in working position and the handle lowered from the upright, or with the handle in substantially upright position for convenience in storing or tofacilitate the use of the device with extension tools secured to the upper open end of the handle. Further objects are to simplify the construction ofthe supports and to furnish secondary adjust ments Within the supports themselves. 7 To these ends the invention consists of the design, arrangement and construction of parts 1 as herein specified and illustrated in the accompanying drawing", in which: 7

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the motor and floor tool part of an airway cleaner showing my improved support attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the main part of the supporting legs removed from the cleaner.

Figure 3 is a detail View of a yoke plate or" bracket by means of which the legs are connected to the body of the cleaner, showing partly in section one of the hinge joints.

Figure 4 is a detail of the U-shape trans verse brace used to tie or connect the legs of the device, and as a rest for the motor in the working position.

Figure 5 illustrates in miniature perspective the bagless-type cleaner with the present improvement attached.

Figure 6 illustrates in miniature perspective the bag-type cleaner with the present improvement attached.

Similar letters and characters denote like and corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, the support is comprised in a bracket plate or yoke 1 which is composed of lugs 2, 2, and fastening means, which may be shaped according to the position to be secured to the body of the cleaner but is here shown with lugs 3, 8, having screw holes 3, 3. To the lugs 2, 2, are to be hinged the legs 4, 4, by bolts as 5, passing through the bores 4, 4 and similar bores 5, 5 of the lugs 2, 2 of the bracket. To the lower ends of the legs 4, 4 which are bored similarly to the upper ends, are secured rollers 6, 6 turning on pins 7, 7 which are rigidly secured to the legs 4, 4. These rollers are preferably rubber protected as provided for and illustrated in my Patent No. 1,541,280 of June 9, 1925, and are designed to make, with a similar pair of rollers 6, 6 on the floor tool of the cleaner, the four points on which the cleaner is to rest in either the working or standing position. Intermediate of the ends of the legs 4, 4 is to be secured a U-shaped brace 8 which is to be bolted to the legs at 9, 9, 9, 9, so as to serve as a stop and is designed to rest against the motor 10 in the bag-type machine or against the exhaust 10 in the bagless-type, when the machine is in a working position.

In order to make a secondary adjustment such as would allow the machine to incline at a greater or lesser angle when in the work ing position, the ends of the brace 8 are provided with slots 8, 8 so that it may he slid upward or downward before tightening the bolts 9, 9, etc. according to the adjustment preferred by the user of the article.

When used with the bag-type machine, the support 1 is designed to be screwed to the fan case 11, and when used in the baglesstype, a modified form of support is designed to be screwed to the outer end 11 of the motor. In either case, the pipe 12 and the floor tool 13 make the additional part of the support of the entire cleaner.

It will be understood that the forms of cleaning apparatus herein illusterated are of the general type disclosed in my Patent No. 1,345,550 issued July 6, 1920, and reissued Dec. 15, 1925, as No. 16,224, and in my pending application Serial No. 251,641, filed Feb. 8, 1928, which in each instance include a suction handle 15 rigidly and operatively connected to the suction producing means, the handle being operatively connected at its lower open end to the floor tool 13, leaving the upper open end 16 free for attachment of suitable extension devices. Valve means are provided for selectively placing either end of the suction handle in communication with the suction producing device, this means comprising the valve 17 illustrated in Fig. 1 and 6, and valve 17 in Fig. 5. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the dust collecting means is represented at 18, while in Fig. 5 the dust collecting apparatus shown at 18 is interposed between the valve 17 and the source of suction 10.

In the operation of the cleaner, the support is to be placed as shown in the dotted position of Figure 1, the floor line being assumed to be the dotted line CD which as indicated, will be about the correct angle for ordinary sweeping and cleaning. It is apparent that in the bagless-type, a similar adjustment is permissible. When the machine is to be set away or employed in a semistationary capacity with its suction handle in substantially upright position and the upper open end thereof available for the attachment of extension devices, the legs will be pressed down into the standing position by means of the hand or foot; because of their yieldably turning on the hinge made stiff by compressing the lugs 2, 2 and the upper ends of the legs 4, 4 together in a turnable condition, but holding them sufiiciently rigid to prevent erratic slipping of the hinge joint. This condition may be accomplished by concaving the facing sides of thehinge element as suggested in the cross section in'Fig'ure 3, and a suflicient tightening of the pivotal bolts as 5.

Having thus described the invention and its operation, what I desire to-secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A roller support for suction cleaners comprising a pair of roller mounted legs, an adjustable transverse member joining the legs intermediate of their ends and adapted to rest against a rigid portion of the cleaner for supporting the cleaner in working position, and means for stifl'ly hinging the legs to the cleaner to be supported, the hinged connection being sufliciently stiff to support the weight of the cleaner when in substantially upright position and sufficiently yielding to permit manual adjustment, together with means for secondarily adjusting the position of said transverse member, whereby the support as a whole is adapted to hold the supported article in various positions.

2. In combination with a suction cleaner having a source of suction, an open-ended suction handle operatively connected to the 1 source of suction, a floor tool connected with one end of the suction handle, and means hingedly carried by said cleaner for supporting the same with the tool resting on the floor and the suction handle in substantially upright position.

3. In combination with a suction cleaner having a source of suction, an open-ended suction handle operatively connected to the source of suction, a floor tool connected with one end of the suction handle, and means carried by said cleaner adjustable to support the cleaner with its suction handle in either substantially upright position when the floor tool is not in operation, or with the handle lowered when the fioor tool is in working position.

4. In combination with a suction cleaner having a floor tool, a handle rigidly secured 20 to the cleaner, and means for supporting the cleaner with its handle either in substantially upright or in lowered position with the floor tool resting upon the supporting surface, said means including a bracket adjust 26 ably connected to the cleaner and of suflicient length to reach the supporting surface when the handle is in either raised or lowered position.

5. In combination with a suction cleaner 30 having a floor tool, a handle rigidly secured to the cleaner, and a bracket hingedly connected to the cleaner, said bracket being of suflicient length and the hinge connection of sufiicient stiflness to support the cleaner with 35 its handle in substantially upright position with the floor tool resting upon the floor.

6. In combination with a suction cleaner having a floor tool, a handle rigidly secured to the cleaner, and means for adjustably sup- N porting the cleaner with its handle at various angles in a vertical plane, said means including a bracket having a stiff hinged connection to the cleaner at one end, and having a foot adapted to rest upon the floor, the bracket being of sufficient length and the connection being sufficiently stiff to support the cleaner with its handle in substantially upright position with the floor tool resting upon the floor.

7 In combination with a suction cleaner 5 having a floor tool, a handle rigidly secured to the cleaner, and supporting means for said cleaner comprising a pair of legs, an attaching member connected to the cleaner, adjustable hinged connecting means securing 5.3 the legs to the attaching member, said connection being sufficiently stiff and the legs of suflicient length so that the legs in one position will support the cleaner with its handle in upright position and the floor tool on resting upon the floor, and a cross piece connecting the supporting legs, and so located as to engage a portion of the cleaner when the cleaner is in lowered position.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

66 DANIEL BENSON REPLOGLE. 

